Don’t or Doesn’t

Illustration of Don’t or Doesn’t
Both “don’t” and “doesn’t” are used to make negative sentences in the present simple tense.

Present Simple - Don't or Doesn't Exercise

These exercises focus on using Don't and Doesn't in Present Simple

 

When Do We Use Don’t and Doesn’t?

  • Don’t = Do not

  • Doesn’t = Does not

You use them to say that someone does not do something.

How to Use Don’t and Doesn’t

Subject

Use with

Example Sentence

I / You / We / They

don’t

They don’t like pizza.

He / She / It

doesn’t

He doesn’t play soccer.

When to Use Don’t

Use don’t with I, you, we, and they.

Subject

Positive Sentence

Negative Sentence

I

I like chocolate.

I don’t like chocolate.

You

You play tennis.

You don’t play tennis.

We

We watch TV.

We don’t watch TV.

They

They go to school.

They don’t go to school.

  • Example: I don’t like bananas.

  • Example: They don’t live here.

When to Use Doesn’t

Use doesn’t with he, she, and it.

Subject

Positive Sentence

Negative Sentence

He

He likes pizza.

He doesn’t like pizza.

She

She plays the piano.

She doesn’t play the piano.

It

It works well.

It doesn’t work well.

  • Example: He doesn’t like ice cream.

  • Example: It doesn’t rain much here.

Important Rules to Remember

  1. With “don’t,” the main verb stays the same (base form).

    Example: We don’t go to the gym.

  2. With “doesn’t,” the main verb also stays in the base form (no -s).

    Example: He doesn’t play soccer.

    (Not “He doesn’t plays soccer.”)

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

  1. Forgetting to change “don’t” or “doesn’t”:

    • Incorrect: He don’t like coffee.

    • Correct: He doesn’t like coffee.

  2. Adding -s to the verb after “doesn’t”:

    • Incorrect: She doesn’t plays tennis.

    • Correct: She doesn’t play tennis.

  3. Using "doesn't" with "I, we, you, they":

    • Incorrect: They doesn’t study.

    • Correct: They don’t study.

Everyday Use of Don’t and Doesn’t

  • I don’t like milk.

  • She doesn’t watch TV.

  • They don’t eat meat.

  • It doesn’t work anymore.

Practice Sentences

Positive Sentence

Negative Sentence

I like pizza.

I don’t like pizza.

He plays football.

He doesn’t play football.

We live in London.

We don’t live in London.

She reads books.

She doesn’t read books.

They go to school.

They don’t go to school.

FAQ

When do I use "don’t"?

Use don’t with I, you, we, and they. For example: "I don’t like carrots."

When do I use "doesn’t"?

Use doesn’t with he, she, and it. For example: "She doesn’t like carrots."

Why don’t we add -s after “doesn’t”?

After doesn’t, we use the base form of the verb (no -s). For example: "He doesn’t play football" (not "He doesn’t plays football").

Can I use "don’t" with "he" or "she"?

No, for he, she, and it, you must use doesn’t. Example: "He doesn’t play tennis."

How can I practice "don’t" and "doesn’t"?

Try making sentences about yourself and others. For example: "I don’t like homework" or "She doesn’t drink coffee."

 
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